ORLANDO, FL – Just about 28,000 people passed through the doors of the Orange County Convention Center to attend HIMSS08 this week, according to officials with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. The event comes to a close today.

While the tally remains unofficial, once they are confirmed later today the show will have hit a new attendance record.

The number of exhibitors is also likely to set a record, with 905 vendors, universities, associations and other groups taking part in the show. But what may be even more significant than the uptick is the growth -- in number and in floorspace -- of some general technology companies such as Microsoft and Google. Both those companies made major healthcare announcements in the days leading up to HIMSS08.

"One of the things we've found is that the relationship to patient data is up for grabs," said Paul Keckley, Executive Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "Nontraditional players such as Microsoft and Google recognize that opportunity."